Forget Tulips & Bitcoin - Here's The Real Bubble

While the broader market for Swiss stocks has risen modestly this year, one 'entity' has outperformed its peers by such a staggering margin, it has left bamboozled market experts struggling for an explanation.

And that company is…the Swiss National Bank.

Price - Share - Swiss - National - Bank

The price of a share in Swiss National Bank in August rose above 3,000 francs ($3,143) for the first time, more than double the level of a year ago, and up 50% since mid-July, as the Financial Times noted in a story about its performance.

Shares of the SNB trade like any other company listed on the Swiss stock exchange, though because of their price liquidity is somewhat thinner. The Swiss cantons together own 45% of the SNB while 15% is owned by cantonal banks and the remaining 40% by private individuals or companies. The Swiss Federal Government owns no shares.

SNB - Holdings - Appetite - Apple - Stock

Given the SNB’s holdings – it has demonstrated a voracious appetite for Apple stock and currently holds more than $80 billion in US stocks – the shareholder-backed hedge fund is also having one **** of a year. Perhaps it’s understandable that shareholders see these gains as a driver of value.

Millionaire Warns Americans: “Get Out Of Cash Now”

System - Wall - Street - Journal - Investors

Something strange is going on in the financial system. And according to The Wall Street Journal, it’s causing some investors to move massive amounts of money out of the banking system.

And of course, the FT has a few theories about what’s been driving the bank’s astounding gains.

Bank - P - L - Dividend - Payment

One is that, because of the bank’s stellar P&L, it will almost certainly make a dividend payment this year (it has occasionally failed to do so, like in 2015). Dividend payments are fixed by law at a maximum of 15 Swiss franc per share.

If paid in full, that would amount to a yield of 50 basis points – far superior to...